Investigation of low limits for the determination of tellurium in environmental samples using nanoparticles

Elemental pollutants, even in trace amounts, have negative effects on both the environment and living organisms in nature. Although trace amounts of these pollutants can be determined by analysers in today's technology, the matrix in the sample environment makes it difficult to analyse at low determination limits. For this reason, there is a need to remove the analyte from the matrix environment and enrich it and measure it at lower determination limits. In this study, it is aimed to analyse the rare element Tellurium (Te) at lower limits. For this purpose, as a new method, it was adsorbed from the matrix medium with copper nanoparticles and determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). In order to reach lower determination limits by extending the contact time of the analyte with the beam, a slit quartz tube (SST) was also placed in the FAAS device and the determination limits were compared using both normal and SST. Solid Phase Microextraction (SFME) method was used as a suitable extraction method for the separation and enrichment of Te element from the matrix medium by pre-concentration in preparation for analysis. The basic principle of Solid Phase Microextraction (SFME) is that the analyte in a liquid sample is removed from the matrix medium with the help of an adsorbent using its selectivity and then recovered with a suitable solvent. In this extraction method, suitable operating conditions (optimum conditions) have been determined for maximum recovery of the analyte, minimising the effect of the matrix medium and thus determining low determination limits. The optimum conditions; pH buffer amount, appropriate pH, shaking method, shaking time, temperature and nanoparticle amount parameters were determined and the limit of observability (LOD) and limit of determination (LOQ) were determined at the optimum conditions determined for analysis with and without YKT. At this stage, it was determined that there was a 175.81-fold improvement in the analysis of the Te element attached with Cu nanaparticles with YKT compared to the analysis performed with normal FAAS. In this study, it was seen that Cu nanoparticles were incorporated into the Te element and an enhancement was provided. This study can be considered as an environmental study. Both Te is purified in the solution and tellurium can be collected in the copper flower nanoparticle and obtained pure. On this, samples taken from Diyarbakır Organised Industrial Zone were analysed. Tellurium element was not found in these samples.